Ten ways to turn a drive into a road trip

You must stop for a coffee or for lunch at a place you’ve never stopped before;

You must travel in both darkness and light, so either leave at dawn or arrive after dusk;

You must have an alternative, easier or quicker route that you do not take; or

You must have been able to take transit or fly, but chose not to; and

You can drive fast, but you must not hurry.

Those elements alone will turn a drive into a good road trip. They ensure a bit of adventurous exploration while also offering some sort of challenge. You don’t have to go far; you can drive away now and return this evening with a sense of accomplishment. This is one welcome occasion when length doesn’t matter.

But do you want a great road trip? Then you also need as many as possible of these:

You must cross water, preferably by ferry;

You must face some form of adversity, like a flat tire or heavy rain;

You must discover something about yourself, such as finding a relative in a graveyard, or fixing a breakdown on your own;